UK gov wants mandatory EV chargepoint for all new homes
The UK government is considering to make installation of electric car charging points mandatory for all new homes with a dedicated car parking space. This comes from a few EV-friendly proposals in an open consultation by the UK’s Department for Transport and aligns with their Road to Zero strategy which targets all new cars and vans to be effectively zero emission vehicles by 2040.
The consultation document includes a proposal that the chargepoint should have a minimum power rating of 7kW and be fitted with a universal socket that can charge all types of electric vehicles. It also states that installation of a chargepoint will add approximately £976 (RM5,000) per parking space. This is a fair amount to pay, but which is why the mandatory installation is only mandatory for new homes; retrofitting a chargepoint in an existing residence could cost up to £2,040 (RM10,300).
Also on the cards is the mandatory installation of at least one chargepoint for new non-residential buildings and non-residential buildings undergoing major renovation work which also has more than 10 parking spaces. Also, cable routes for an electric vehicle chargepoint for one in five spaces.
Another portion of the proposal wants debit and credit card payment options available at all newly installed rapid chargepoints by spring 2020. Currently, the usual way of gaining access to a public rapid charger and making payment is via a smartphone app or RFID authorisation.
This could turn into legislation and could be a burden for some homeowners. But it sure does accelerate the Road to Zero objectives. And it’s not so crazy since the California government has made it compulsory for every new home (including condos and apartments up to 3-storey high) from 2020 to include rooftop solar panels. According to the California Energy Commission, this could add increase the initial cost of housing by up to $9,500, or roughly RM40,000.
Just saying, but if the Malaysian government wants to adopt such a scheme locally please provide a sensible fiscal incentive package for buyers of EVs first.
